Removable sash balance



.1959 F. J. DECKEYR ETAL 2,871,506

REMOVABLE SASl-I BALANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1955 IN V ENTORS E'cJer/ck j Deck am/ BY I H. Gr

. lap/21% #TTORNEY- Feb. 3, 1959 F. J. DECKER ETAL REMOVABLE SASHBALANCE 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1955 INVENTORS y m M a 0m TY Bm w United. States Patent 2,871,506 REMGVABLE SASH BALANCE 7 FrederickH. Decker, Pittsford, and Mahlon H. Gregg,

Rochester, N. Y., assignors to The Caldwell Manufacturing Company,Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 25,1955, Serial No. 490,552 6 Claims. (Cl. 16-202) This invention relatesto window sash balances and it more particularly pertains to sashbalances of the spiral type wherein the longitudinal movement of aspiral rod through a nut in accordance with the raising and lowering ofa window sash respectively decreases and increases torsional force in aspiral spring tending to hold the window sash in its last operatedposition and to assist in lifting the sash. More particularly, theinvention relates to this type of sash balance for a takeout windowwhere the sash and the balance operate as a unit, and where both thesash and the balance can be disengaged from the frame and removed forthe purpose of cleaning the window, adjusting the balance,

etc.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide an improved sash balance for a takeout sash window,includinga rotatable element having a spiral track and a torsion memberadapted to be mounted for relative movement in which the parts are veryeconomical to produce and may be easily assembled into the balance, andthe balance and the sash are easily and quickly assembled in anoperative relation in the window frame, and are easily and quicklyremoved for cleaning or other purposes.

Second, to provide an improved and relatively inexpensive means formaintaining the balance in a fixed position on the frame when the windowis in operating position, while, at the same time, providing means forquickly disengaging the balance from the window frame, so that the sashand the balance may be removed as a unit.

Third, to provide a sash balance for a take-out window having the aboveadvantages in which the mounting brackets are of the drive type, one ofthe brackets functioning to hold the assembly under torque stress, whilethe balance is assembled on the take-out sash.

Fourth, and principle object of the invention, to provide a spiral typerod sash balance for a take-out window,

.whereby the balance may be installed on the sash and torsional forceapplied to the balance, which is held in position solely on the sashuntil the sash and the balance are moved into position in the frame, atwhich point the end of the spiral rod to whichthe spring is fixed islocked into position with respect tothe frame, which locked position maybe disengaged.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in theclaims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation with parts broken away showing theposition of the balance in the sash and held in fixed position to theframe.

Figure 2 is a top sectional view looking down in the direction of thearrows at line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa-side elevation in section of the upper portion of the sashand frame showing the sash fixed into positionon the window.

'With reference to Figure 1-, a sash balance according to one embodimentof the present invention is illustrated as being secured in itsoperating position along a vertical side 8 of a window sash. The windowframe is of a conventional frame construction, having a verticalpartingstrip for separating the upper and lower sashes of a double hung Window,a lintel 11 extending across the top of the frame, a sill 12 extendingacross the bottom of the frame, and vertical stop and facing strips 10and 13 respectively secured to the jamb 16 for cooperating with theparting strip 9 to form channels in which movable slides are disposedand in which respective upper and lower sashes of the window may be Ioperated.

An upper sash 14 is illustrated as having a vertical channel 15 formedin its edge adjoining the jamb 16 for receiving the sash balance.Although Figure 1 shows only the balance associated with the left-handside of a window sash, it is to be understood that this balance can besimilarly applied to the frame and sash at the right-hand side of thewindow, and that similar balances are employed in practice for therespective sides of the lower sash (shownwith parts broken away). It isto be understood, however, that a single balance according to thepresent inventionf is suitable under certain. conditions to operate awindow sash, provided, of

course, that a spring of suitable tension is employed.

.The balance, according to Figure 1, has a tubular housing andsupporting member 17 that is preferably.

of a length for use with an upper sash. The balance for the lower sash(not shown), however, should have a tubular support slightly greater inlength than the height of the upper sash. Secured within the lower edgeof the supporting member 17 is a tubular bearing 19, which is preferablyfixed in position by spinning the end of the tube 17 inwardly around thelower edge of the bearing 19, thus also securing the seam of the tube 17from spreading.

A helical spring (not shown) extends within the tube 17 substantiallythroughout its entire length and is secured at its respective upper, andlower ends by a spring anchor and a tubular adapter, as shown in Patent2,580,705. The spring 'is' of 'fla't' spring stock having a widthsubstantially greater thanitsthickness and formed with spaced helicalconvolutions, so that the greater crosssectional dimension of the springmaterial is parallel to the axis of the spring. A spring of this nature,as is more fully described in Patent No. 2,415,614, dated February 11,1947, is preferred because it retains straight axial alignment whentorsional force is applied, with no friction between the respectiveturns of the spring, and thus requires no additional support such-asbearing against the tube 17, so as to cause noise'and uneven operationof the balance'because of friction with a supporting member. It is to beunderstood, however, that many of the objects of the present inventioncan be used in sash balances employing the conventional wire woundsprings if the conditions of practice of the invention warrent the useof such springs.

The spring is suitably secured to the outside of the spring anchor byits own tension grasping the tubular portion of the anchor in a mannerfully'fdescribed in the above mentioned Patent 2,415,614. The tube 17and the anchor, and thus the upper end of the spring, are secure againstrotation bythe flange 24 extending into slot 25 of window sash 8.

Flanged tubular anchor'23 is swag'ed over the spring anchor and has anextension 51 which extends into slot 52 of flange 11 and serves to holdflanged tubular anchor 23 in position in the frame. Also extending fromflanged tubular anchor 23 are flanges 54 and 55 which extend throughslots of spring lock 61 whichis fixedly mounted to movable slide rail64. Movable slide rail 64 is made of aluminum or other suitable materialand is mounted in jamb 16 in a manner so as to yield to pressure exertedupon sash 14 when sash 14 is removed.

The lower end of the rod 31 is anchored by a bracket '48 which'issuitably secured to the lower edge of the window sash 14 as by the nails52.

The left-hand portion of the bracket 48 is formed as a U-shaped bayonetreceiving receptacle extending into the channel 15, so as not toprotrude below the lower edge'ofthe window sash. Such receptacle is forreceiving a bayonet crosspin'49 which extends transversely through rod31, thuscausing the pin 49 to bulge on the opposite sides of the rod andthus securely lock the cross-pin 49 "on center at the lower end of therod 31.

Having considered the structural details of the balance, according tothe embodiment shown in Figure 1, consideration will now be given to themanner in which the balance is installed and'adjusted and its mode ofopera tion in balancing the weight of the window.

It is preferable that the rod 31 be inserted'through the nut before thebalancev is shipped, and also that the cross-pin 49 be inserted withinits bayonet notch in the receptacle 48, so that there is no assembly tobe done 'atthe time of the installation. This being accomplished, themode of operation of the installation of the balance'is simple andobvious from the drawing. The sash is first removed from the windowframe by pressing to the left against the movable slide 64 and the lowerend of'the balance is inserted through the channel 15 as illustrated,and then the flanged tubular anchor 23 is inserted into slot 25 onthesash, after the tubular element 17 has been turned,.so as to exert theproper amount of'torsion on the'spring.

Window sash 14 with the balance in position is then pushed into place inmovable slide 64 as is customary with the conventional take-out window.As the window is raised into position, flanged tubular anchor 23is movedinto locked engagement with spring 61 by ears 54 and 55 and extension 51protrudes up into slot 52 of the lintel 11, thus locking the upper endof the balance into .position. As the window is lowered, the lockedupper end of the balance is held into position byspring 61, and thelowering-of the window operates the balance in the conventional manneras described in Patent 2,580,705.

Having thus described specific embodiments of the present invention asillustrative of forms which the inoperatively associated with saidsupporting member; a

--tubular-anchor fastened toone end of said sash balance,

a flange on said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in a slot in awindow sash for holding said tubularanchor against rotation with respectto the sash when the sash is removed from the window frame, a springlock having slots formed therein fastened to the window frame, flangeson said tubular anchor engaged with the slots in said spring lock whenthe sash is in the window frame; said second flanges being adapted to bedisengaged from the slots in said spring lock when the sash and balanceare removed from the window frame.

3. A sash balance fastened to a window sash; a tubular anchor fastenedat one end of said sash balance, a flange on said tubular anchor adaptedto be engaged in a slot in said sash for holding said tubular anchoragainst rotationwith respect to said sash, a spring lock fastened tothe'window frame, said spring lock being adapted to be engaged by saidtubular anchor for removably connecting said end'of'said sash balance tothe window frame; said spring lock being adapted to be disengaged fromsaid tubular anchor when the sash is removed from the window 7 frame.

4. A sash balance for a window sash adapted to be removed from a windowframe; one end of said sash balance being'connected to the window sash,means for connecting said sash balance to the window frame comprising aspring lock having slots formed therein fastened 'to the window frame, atubular anchor on said sash balance, a'flange on said tubular anchoradapted to engage in a slot in the sash for holding said sash balanceagainst rotation with respect to the sash, second flanges on saidtubular anchor adapted to be engaged in the slots in said spring lockwhen the sash is placed in the Window frame.

5. A sash balance for a window sash adapted to be removed from a windowframe; one end of said sash balance being connected to the window sash,means for connecting said sash balance to the Window frame comprising aspring lock having slots formed therein fastened to the window frame, atubular anchor on said sash balance, a flange on said tubular anchoradapted to engage in a slot in the sash for holding said sash balanceagainst rotationwith respect to the sash, an extension on said ventionmay assume, it is desired to be understood that these forms are selectedto facilitate the disclosure of the v invention rather than to limit thenumber of forms the invention may assume, and it is to be furtherunderstood that various adaptations, alterations, and modifications maybe applied to the specific forms shown to meet the requirements ofpractice without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of thepresent invention except as limited by the appending claims.

We claim:

1. A sash balance including an elongated supporting member and a spiralrod connected to a window sash and operatively associated with saidsupporting member and a spring member in said supporting member; atubular anchor fastened to one end of said sash balance, a first flangeon said tubular anchor adapted to be engaged in a slot in a window sashfor holding said tubularanchor against rotation with respect to thesash, a spring lock having slots formed therein fastened to a windowjamb, flanges on said tubular anchor adapted to be removably frame forholding said sash balance in'position with respect to the window frame,second flanges on said tubular anchor adapted to engage'in the-slots insaid spring lock when the sash is'placed-in the window frame.

6. A sash balance fastened to a window sash adapted to be removablyplaced in a window frame; means for connecting said sash balance to saidwindow frame when said sash is placed in said frame comprising a tubularanchor on 'said sash balance, a spring lock fastened to said windowframe, said spring lock having slots formed therein, flanges on saidtubular anchor adapted to be engaged in the slots in said spring lockwhen said sash is placed in said frame, an extension on said tubularanchor extending into a slot in said frame when said sash is placed insaid frame for maintaining said sash 'balance in position with respectto said frame, a flange on said tubular anchor adapted to engage in aslot in said sash for holding said sash balance against rotation withrespect to said sash.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,415,614 Tappen Feb. 11, 1947 2,580,705 Tappan Jan. 1, 1952 2,602,958Brown July 15, 1952 2,662,255 Serley Dec. 15, 1953 2,677,156 Holmes May4, 1954 2,678,477 -Russell May 18, 1954 2,732,594 .Adams et al Jan. 31,1956 2,735,145 Kraesky Feb. 21, 1956

